Schools across Reno County are seeing a gradual increase in the percentage of students absent because of illness, according to the Reno County Health Department.

Tuesday

Oct 20, 2009 at 12:01 AMOct 20, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Ken Stephens - The Hutchinson News - kstephens@hutchnews.com

Preparedness Coordinator Bob Hickman, who compiles weekly reports from the schools, said Tuesday that the overall absenteeism rate for the week ending Oct. 16 was 4.92 percent at 42 Reno County schools. That's up from 2.84 percent the week ending Oct. 9 and from just over 1 percent on average for six weeks before that, he said.

Only four county schools - two elementary schools and two high schools - had more than 10 percent of their students missing last week, he said. Hickman would not identify specific schools.

The reporting was initiated to help gauge the spread of influenza. But the numbers reported by the schools are absences due to illness, not specifically the result of influenza or the H1N1 virus. Few cases other than those requiring hospitalization are being tested to confirm H1N1.

Absenteeism was highest in grade schools last week. Hickman said that the average absenteeism rate for grade schools was 6.7 percent. Of 25 grade schools reporting, 13 had a rate of 6 percent or higher.

In middle schools, the absenteeism rate averaged 5.97 percent, with five of nine schools reporting a rate of 6 percent or higher.

Eight high schools reported a combined average of 4.07 percent absenteeism.

Hickman said the schools also are beginning to see more teachers and staff becoming ill, which is to be expected in a group spending all day with children who are getting sick.

No Reno County schools have had to close because of high absenteeism this school year, Hickman said. However, two Kiowa County schools - Delmer Day Elementary in Greensburg and Kiowa County Junior High in Mullinville - closed Tuesday and will not reopen until Friday.

Hickman reiterated the precautions people should take to limit the spread of influenza: Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or by coughing into your shoulder or elbow; wash hands frequently; eat a well-balanced diet; and get plenty of rest. And if you do become ill, stay at home until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication.

Most cases are not tested to determine the type of influenza or even whether the illness is indeed influenza. However, if you have it, there's a very good chance it's H1N1.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that for the week of Oct. 4-10, 13,921 samples were tested nationwide. Of those, 4,093 were some type of influenza and 4,078 were some form of Type A, of which H1N1 is a subtype. More than 61 percent of the positives were H1N1, and nearly 39 percent of the remainder were not subtyped to determine whether they were H1N1.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment does not reveal how many or the percentage of samples tested that are positive for flu or the H1N1 subtype. However, KDHE reports that 75 counties have confirmed cases of H1N1.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross reported that blood collections in the region are starting to fall short because donors are canceling appointments because they are ill with the flu.

The Red Cross in Wichita has asked that healthy potential donors make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days, while donors who are feeling ill or think they may be coming down with the flu should reschedule.

"We certainly don't want anyone who feels ill to think they should come in and donate," said Scott Caswell, CED of the Central Plains Region. "But the need for blood is constant. We encourage people to make an appointment and give the gift of life."

Donors can call (800) 448-3543 or go to www.bloodisneeded.org to make an appointment. Walk-ins also are welcome.